DeKALB, Ill. - The official fundraising arm of Northern Illinois University Athletics has a new name, a new website and a new commitment to improving communication and service to its donors in 2014.

The new Huskie Athletic Fund (formerly the Huskie Athletic Support Fund) unveiled its 2014 Donor Guide containing a revised benefits chart, a different way of calculating priority points, a revised parking allocation for Huskie football games and a call to donors and supporters to "Commit to NIU" this year.

The 24-page donor guide, which will be mailed along with season ticket renewal information, also features information on new premium seating options for Huskie football and basketball dubbed "The Premium Experience" and introduces "The Yard," the new official pregame tailgate of NIU Athletics, which will be free and open to the public prior to every home football game in 2014.

"We're excited about taking our fundraising efforts and service to our donors to the next level with the re-launch of the Huskie Athletic Fund today," said NIU Associate Vice-President and Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier. "This is an important step for NIU moving forward as we continue to build this athletics program for our student-athletes, coaches and fans."

The cornerstone of Wednesday's launch of the Huskie Athletic Fund centers around the new communication methods that will be used by the NIU Athletics development staff to inform donors and supporters of the exciting initiatives taking place at NIU, including:

Chats on NIUHuskies.com: Members of the Huskie Athletic Fund staff will be available to answer your questions in a series of Live Chats on NIUHuskies.com in the coming weeks. A schedule for the chats, as well as the chance to pre-submit questions, will be available soon.

Of course, donors are always invited to contact members of the development staff directly by calling 815-753-PACK (7225) and via e-mail at huskieathleticfund@niu.edu.

On April 19, fans will have an opportunity to experience a limited version of "The Yard," talk to members of the NIU external staff, and hear directly from Frazier prior to the annual Huskie Bowl (spring game) at Huskie Stadium. Following the game, which begins at 3 p.m., all donors who have turned in their renewal forms for 2014 prior to or on that day, will be admitted to a special post-game reception with the Huskie coaching staff.